Lombok, Not The Asian One

Lombok, Utrecht

The first ‘buitenwijk’ of Utrecht was Lombok. It was where the factory workers lived. Small houses with no heating system. Now it is almost part of the city center and not anymore at the end of Utrecht.

Living, Shopping In Lombok, Utrecht

The houses in Lombok were built when Utrecht needed expanding and the industrial time started. The factory workers were housed there. The houses are small, authentic and most without heating. Some are still without heating today. There was a heavy debate when I was studying Urban Geography if part of Lombok should be renovated or demolished for new housing. The inhabitants wanted to stay living in their houses. This debate kept on going and the houses were decaying. Most of them are now being renovated because the inhabitants kept saying they wanted to stay living in them or they renovated the houses themselves.

Lombok, Utrecht Is Popular

Lombok is part of Utrecht West and has always been an up-and-coming neighborhood. Popular because it is near the city center and there are grocery shops there. The shops are almost all grocery and owned by migrants. On Saturday especially during Ramadam it is the meeting point to shop for veggies, fruits and meat. The competition between de veggie and fruit stores is heavy, but the Cheese, bakeries and meat stores are high end. The neighborhood got also new blood with the yuppies wanting to live there. With the yuppies there also came cafes where mothers could lunch with their kids playing in the ‘speelhoek’ and ‘zzp’ers’ could work or meet.

Typical Saturday

Kanaalstraat is the famous street of Lombok, Utrecht. It is the busiest street of the neighborhood. It is a must see and a unique experience. All of Utrecht meet there to talk and do grocery. The best way to do is by honking the horn and standing in the middle of the street talking without moving for pedestrians, bikes, or vehicles. It is fun to see, but not the time to do grocery or having to be on the other side of the neighborhood through this street. A more suitable place for a sunny Saturday would be Molen De Ster or muntkade. In the summer swimming is occasionally allowed there.

Lombok Branches Over The Vleutenseweg

For the mummies and the yuppies there is Koffie & Ik and Café West to meet each other and/or have lunch. Their kids can play in the 'speelhoek'. Café West also serves dinner as café Lombok and all the other new ones. The bakery in Nieuw Engeland must be visited in the morning otherwise all the bread and pasteries are sold out.

Lombok And The Future

Lombok is part of Utrecht West but didn’t lose its identity yet. There are still ‘buurthuizen’ like Rosa where Dutch or other lessons are taught. Yoga can also be done in Nieuw Engeland. Frisbee, darts, soccer, or tennis: no need to exit the neighborhood. Even during hot summers the ones living in West can find shade in Park Oog In Al, Majella Park and on the sides of ‘kanaal/sluis’. Don’t forget the city beach at Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal almost in Leidsche Rijn. Leidsche Rijn is the 'newest' neighborhood  Of Utrecht at the other side of the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal. Last time I passed through West by bus I saw river cruises anchored at the quay of Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal. The future will tell if the recreational facilities are enough to also cater the new quarter near the rails. The neighborhood is expanding to keep the families with kids and the creatives in this part of Utrecht where they grew up or moved to when studying.

* In 2007 when I started working for STOGO Onderzoek +Advies as a researcher. It was located in Lombok 'bedrijfsverzamelgebouw' before moving to Nieuwegein. I worked at STOGO Onderzoek + Advies from 2007 - 2009. STOGO Onderzoek + Advies was bought by I&O Research in 2010 (IPSOS I&O).  

**I lived in New England from 2009 till 2016 in three different houses. I used the Tennis facilities (2009 - 2013) and did yoga (2010-2013) in Utrecht West. I taught Excel and Starting with Computing in buurthuis Rosa from 2012 - 2013.